Wearing a sports bra that fits well and is supportive sounds simple enough – but it’s still a major issue for many women.
And wearing the wrong bra is more than just uncomfortable — it can do serious damage.
“A bra that fits will anchor our boobs to our body,” says Tish Tily, co-founder and managing director of Melbourne-based sports bra specialty store She Science.
“And that is what helps to control our breast displacement when we’re being active. A bra that doesn’t fit can’t do that.”
Wearing the right sports bra can help to reduce breast bounce and breast pain, increase comfort, and lead to better performance.
Tily’s top tips include:
- Find a bra that fits — “If it does not fit you, it will not work”
- Wear a band that is snug around the rib cage
- See a specialist bra fitter that stocks a range of products in your size
- Understand you may need different bras depending on whether the activity is high impact or lower intensity
Cardwell’s top tips include:
- Get fitted professionally
- Find out about the different types of sports bras and see what works for you, e.g. encapsulation (cups to support each breast), compression (no cups, compress both breasts against chest), hybrid (combination of compression and encapsulation)
- The band should be snug, but not too tight
- For larger-breasted women, look for cross straps at the back for a more even weight distribution
